Collapsible crate.



W. S. SMITH & E. L. GOSGROVE.

GOLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION IILED APR. 1., 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

W. S. SMITH & E. L. UOSGROVE GQLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1909.

937,880. Patented 0ct.26, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WINFIELID SCOTT SMITH AND EZRA L. COSGROVE, 0F WHARTON, OHIO.

GOLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 1, 1909.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

Serial No. 487,361.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WINFIELD Soo'r'r SMITH and EZRA L. CosGRovE,citizens of the United States, residing at 'Wharton, in the county ofWVyandot and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Collapsible Crates; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in collapsibleshipping crates and comprises various details of construction,combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter fullydescribed and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a perspective View showing the crate opened up. Fig. 2 is aview showing the body portion of the crate collapsed, and Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view showing the crate partially folded.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A, Adesignate a series of slats forming the surrounding closure of thecrate, said slats being held in place by means of the circumferentialwall B twisted thereabout in a manner similar to the fastening of slatsof a fence, and C designates one end of the crate, the cross-pieces E ofwhich have projecting ends adapted to engage between the slats of thesurrounding closure and held by the wires from moving outward. Thefolding end of the crate is made up of two sections, designatedrespectively by letters F and G, and connected to gether by means ofhinges H. One of said sectionscarries a bar K securely fastened theretoand provided with a free end which is apertured, as at L, and O is astaple carried by the other section and adapted to pass through saidaperture L when the two sections of the folding end are opened out inthe manner shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and the proj ecting portionof the staple through said aperture is adapted to hold the crate asillustrated in Fig. l. The section F is provided with hooks K which areadapted to engage over the twisted wires to hold the slats A and thestrips R of the section G have projecting ends T designed to engage thetwisted wires as shown, thereby securely holding the folding end sectionagainst pressure from within.

When it is desired to fold the crate, the ends are removed, after whichthe surrounding closure may be folded to the position shown in thedrawings, thus reducing the crate to a compact form for storage, shipment, etc.

What we claim to be new is 1. A collapsible crate comprising asurrounding closure made up of slats fastened together by means oftwisted wires, an end piece having projections adapted to engage thewire of said surrounding closure, an end made up of sections hingedtogether, a bar fastened to one of said sections and provided with anopening therein, a staple fixed to the other section and adapted toregister with said opening, and means for holding said folding endwithin the closure, as set forth.

2. A collapsible crate comprising a surrounding closure made up of slatsfastened together by means of twisted wires, an end piece havingprojections adapted to engage the wire of said surrounding closure, anend made up of sections hinged together, a bar fastened to one of saidsections and provided with an opening therein, a staple fixed to theother section and adapted to register with said opening, hooksprojecting from one of the sections of said folding end and adapted toengage the wire of said surrounding closure, and projections upon theother folding section adapted to engage said wire, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures in the presence oftwo witnesses.

WTNFIELD SCOTT SMITH. EZRA L. COSGROVE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. L. Lorrnn, THOS. B. KEAR.

